United States Department of Agriculture Twelve Mile Project Environmental Assessment Forest Service Pisgah National Forest Appalachian Ranger District July, 2019 For More Information Contact: Jason Herron Environmental Coordinator 632 Manor Drive Mars Hill, NC 28754 (828) 689-9694 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). 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Environmental Assessment Contents Purpose and Need ....................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 1 Background ............................................................................................................................................... 2 Nantahala and Pisgah Forest Plan Direction ............................................................................................ 4 Purpose and Need for Action .................................................................................................................... 6 Issues and Alternatives ............................................................................................................................. 11 Public Involvement ................................................................................................................................. 11 Issues ...................................................................................................................................................... 11 Range of Alternatives ............................................................................................................................. 12 Alternatives Considered in Detail ........................................................................................................... 12 Alternative A – No Action .................................................................................................................. 12 Alternative B – Action Alternative ..................................................................................................... 12 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study ............................................................... 12 Action Alternative ..................................................................................................................................... 13 Summary of Action Alternative .......................................................................................................... 30 Descriptions of Proposed Actions ....................................................................................................... 30 Transportation Management ................................................................................................................... 34 Project Design Criteria and Mitigation ................................................................................................... 41 Monitoring .......................................................................................................................................... 44 Environmental Effects of the Proposed Action and Alternatives ......................................................... 45 Hydrology and Aquatic Habitat .......................................................................................................... 46 Scale of Analysis ................................................................................................................................. 46 Effects Analysis .................................................................................................................................. 50 Determination of Effect ...................................................................................................................... 61 Soil/Geology Resources ........................................................................................................................ 63 Scope of the Analysis .......................................................................................................................... 63 Existing Conditions ............................................................................................................................. 63 Hydric Soils Listing ............................................................................................................................ 64 Prime Farmland Soils Listing ............................................................................................................. 64 Desired Condition of the Soils ............................................................................................................ 65 Direct & Indirect Effects Analysis ...................................................................................................... 65 Cumulative Effects Analysis ............................................................................................................... 76 Wildlife .................................................................................................................................................. 78 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 78 Terrestrial Wildlife Survey and Analysis Methods ............................................................................. 78 Existing Terrestrial Wildlife Condition .............................................................................................. 79 Analysis for Terrestrial Wildlife Resources ........................................................................................ 83 Effects to TES and FC Terrestrial Wildlife Species ........................................................................... 87 Summary of Effects ............................................................................................................................ 96 Botanical .............................................................................................................................................. 100 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 100 Botanical Survey and Analysis Methods .......................................................................................... 100 Existing Botanical Condition ............................................................................................................ 102 Effects to Threatened, Endangered, Sensitive, and Forest Concern Species .................................... 111 Effects of Non-Native Invasive Plant Species within the Botanical Analysis Area ......................... 120 Effects to Research Natural Areas or Botanical Special Interest Areas ............................................ 122 Summary of Effects .......................................................................................................................... 123 Cultural Resources ............................................................................................................................. 124 iii Environmental Assessment Existing Condition ............................................................................................................................ 124 Protection and Conservation Mitigations .......................................................................................... 124 Direct and Indirect Effects ................................................................................................................ 125 Recreation ........................................................................................................................................... 126 Existing Condition ............................................................................................................................ 126 Direct and Indirect Effects ................................................................................................................ 126 Cumulative Effects ............................................................................................................................ 129 Air Quality .......................................................................................................................................... 130 Scope of Analysis ............................................................................................................................. 130 Direct and Indirect Effects ...............................................................................................................